CindyJo,

I had a somewhat similar thing with Delta. They cancelled a flight from ATL to CDG and put me on another without contacting me to ask my preference! They had me on a flight arriving at 6:30 in the morning. Nothing is open! I called them and let them know that I was extremely annoyed with the way this was handled. I did get it changed to my satisfaction for arrival at 8:35 which is when I like to arrive in Paris.

You purchased thru AF and need to call them. Do speak with a supervisor. I don't know how they can put you on a flight a day earlier without your approval and without some sort of compensation for lodging for that day early arrival. What are you supposed to do? Doesn't make any sense. I think if you call you should be able to get it straightened out in some manner.

Joan

Cindy Jo,

Exactly what Ira said, call back and speak to another agent. Eventually you will find one who will be helpful.

Today I rechecked with Air France and they gave me the same seat numbers they told me when I called after this post, so I feel like I do have the assigned seats (Paris-Atlanta). The 'agent' told me that we have to go to the AF counter to check in, and we cannot check in online. I forgot to ask if that was because it was an international flight - anyone know? and, anyone ever do online checkin when flying Paris-US?

If the AF flight departs from T2E, do you board the plane directly, take a bus out to the tarmac or 'depends'..?

Travelnut,

The seats will not show on the Delta website for that particular flight..always unassigned..A/F and Delta do not work together with that. If you have gone to A/F and received the seat and have asked for their confirmation #, you are all set.

I don't check in online, but never a problem at CDG..if Medallion status, even faster.

I, too did 1800fly europe for my Nov/Dec. trip.
I had A/F seats and called a month ago to re-confirm the seat and they were not sure what plane they were going to use for my flight with them. They are all making sure that they fill all seats, so wait as long as they can to see what size plane they need!

I am also A/F CDG to ATL..going over it is Delta.
They have a strange working relationship, but I have been doing this with them at least twice a year.

Joan

I have checked in online for Northwest flight from CDG, but couldn't last week for a Delta flight (the check in kiosks at the airport weren't working either). I was with friends who were checking in for an Air France flight. The number of the check in desk isn't posted until 3 hours before the flight (Delta wouldn't let us get in line until exactly 3 hours), but the friends whipped through check-in on AF and were emailing me from the business lounge while I was still standing in line. Also, I had to take a train to the outer Delta terminal and go through security there. AF is easier- although apparently the food is no longer as good as it used to be.

Yeah, that was another thing... My reservations are Delta except for this segment is Air France... wondering if I end up at T2E terminal, or the S3/'Galeries Parisienne' terminal? (which sounds like where you went, via the "Lisa" lightrail).

I suppose that is a quick hop - you had to go thru security check before you got on the lightrail, and then another before your gate at S3? (my goal is to make sure 3 hours is enough time, plan to arrive via RER at 7:29 and our flight departs at 10:40am).

Thanks for all the responses...!

<<Looking online, there are better seats available but the agent stated that we would have to get to the airport early and request a change. She also stated that this could not be done online. Does anyone have any actual experience with this situation.>>

I'm glad to see this topic. We are flying IAD-CDG in two weeks on AF codesharing with Delta. We called AF and got our flight numbers (we're flying to CDG from MRS at the end of our trip). We were given seats, but they aren't together. AF told us that we would be able to change our seat assignment 30 hours ahead of time online.

Will write back if successful. As an aside the Delta and AF computers can't communicate with one another. Once I was flying on a free ticket, but got miles on my Delta account. I didn't complain about that.

I hope this flight will be near the RER. We're coming home to ATL on Delta so we'll most likely be in the new inconvenient terminal- the one with the long bus ride, or perhaps that has changed. It's been a couple of years since we've gone to Paris.

I flew out of CDG on Delta in May. I don't recall a bus ride, but it was a hike from the main area to the boarding area.

"..I hope this flight will be near the RER. We're coming home to ATL on Delta so we'll most likely be in the new inconvenient terminal- the one with the long bus ride.."

The 'long bus ride' should relate to the new Schengen (sp?) terminal 2G, not to a departing flight to the US. The RER station is 'next' to 2E where Delta/AF flights depart, the slight caveat that there is a satellite S3 that requires a quick (45 second?) 'rail' connection from 2E. We'll be arriving at CDG using the RER as well. (have done this for T1, 2A and 2C but not 2E as yet).

Two years ago there was some repair being done for the gate that collapsed I think and that's why we had a bus ride that took some time.

This trip our RER ride will be into Paris. The trip back to Atlanta will come after we make our connection after our flight to CDG from Marseilles. I think we have a long enough layover to make our connection.

CDG is always a puzzle, but I'm glad to hear that no one has had to ride a bus out to their plane lately.

Thanks for the info, CarolA and Travelnut

No bus rides anymore..new terminal has been fine for both my April/May, 2009 trip and my two trips last year. Next one is Nov/Dec. I fly ATL/CDG often..Usually Delta going over and A/F on return for the schedules that I prefer. I have also done the CDG/Marseilles.

The security lines are there, nothing you can do about them..almost worse when you get into ATL.

Joan

Do you people remember the old days when seats were assigned by pulling little stickers off of a sheet and sticking them on your boarding pass?

kerouac...

Yes, I remember those little stickers..had completely forgotten......

Joan

Travelnut- my friends did not have to take the train to the satellite terminal for their Air France flight. I had to go through passport control before getting on the train, but went through security after, at the satellite. It was better than previous trips where they did another security check at the gate, but the whole thing still took quite a while. Air France didn't post the check-in stand to go to until exactly 3 hours before the flight, so it won't do any good to get there earlier than that. Delta did post the number, but then wouldn't let us get in line, so there was a mob forming to get into the line- you had to be aggressive to get near the front. But the Air France check in apparently went a lot smoother, so it didn't take my friends as long. They got in their line half an hour after I did, but were at passport control 3 people behind me.

Concerning your seat selection: My return flight in Dec. is A/F..going over it is Delta. As in previous message..the 2 airlines do not communicate well. Last time I talked with A/F, they had not decided on the plane for my flight. I just called them and they now have the plane and I just confirmed my seat with them for 12/14. The important thing to do when talking with A/F, is to ask them for THEIR confirmation number ( also called reference number).By having this, you only need to go online and click on the "other options" and enter the # in the slot and you will pull up your complete itinerary with A/F..same as what you have with Delta.

Enjoy..

Joan

Gracejoan,

Are the security lines in Marseilles long? How long before your flight to you go to the airport?

Thanks, Evelyn

I have not been in the Marseilles airport since all the security changes. It is a small, nice airport with easy car rental access.

I always like to allow plenty of time..would hate the mess of missing a flight! I think a couple of hours would be ample time. You will be able to check your luggage to ATL and then only have your connection at CDG. Is ATL your final, or a connection to ?. ATL is a mess..takes forever. You do need connection time there. Often a tail wind, so arrives early, but don't count on it. I have to take a shuttle from there to home..Asheville..I always allow plenty of time and if tail wind I may have to sit, but the shuttles are always full and if one missed, then I could have a problem..and by this time I am pooped!! Joan

Joan, Atlanta is our final destination, but we have a 1 1/2 hour drive home to Anniston, Alabama. We will be tired! Hopefully, our daughter will pick us up and drive us home.

I think the tail wind you are talking about is going to France- the wind blows west to east. The flight back takes nearly an hour longer than going. Still it's worth it all.

BTW we always allow plenty of time when going to Atlanta and CDG. Actually we get to most flights early to avoid worry and the problem of lost luggage, etc.

Evelyn

Efoss3,

My flight in May to ATL arrived over an hour early. I could have booked the eralier shuttle to AVL..but, you never know, and the shuttles are always pretty full to AVL. The tail wind must take turns in directions bcause I have also arrived over an hour early into CDG! Hard to figure, isn't it!!

Yes, I always allow plenty of time and arrive in ATL eary.I would rather sit there knowing that I am where my Intl flight leaves from. Have found one restaurant that is decent. I usually eat there and then I can avoid the plane food..or most of it!

Yes, you are tired when you arrive in ATL and go through all of that mess. Good to have someone drive you home from the airport..hopefully your daughter will drive you!
Have a good trip....

Joan

Thanks for the info on getting seats. I called Delta to get an AF confirmation # and was able to select seats on the AF website just now. (The new seat info showed up right away on both AF and KLM websites, but Delta's site still says "Not assigned"). Anyone know if it's possible to select seats for the KLM segments?